USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. Conde Leroy Raguet, USN) was caught, on the surface or broaching, by a Japanese aircraft, probably a naval aircraft of the 761st Naval Air Flotilla based on Labuan. This aircraft attacked, dropping 2 depth bombs which the claimed to have both hit (one near the sail), and causing the sub to sink "in a cloud of smoke, flames and water" off southwest Palawan island and west of Balabac Strait, in position 07º49'5"N, 116º47'5"E. All hands lost.

21 Jun 1944USS Barbel (Cdr. R.A. Keating, Jr., USN) arrived at Pearl Harbor. Voyage repairs were made from 22 June to 27 June. From 28 June to 12 July she conducted final training before she was to be sent on her 1st war patrol.

15 Jul 1944USS Barbel (Cdr. R.A. Keating Jr., USN) departed Pearl Harbor for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the Ryukyu Islands. She was escorted out by USS PC 571 (Lt. F. Stoddard, USNR).

For the daily and attack positions of USS Barbel during this patrol see the map below. As no deck log is available (for the moment) positions were taken from the patrol report. Unfortunately the patrol report does not give daily noon positions.

19 Jul 1944USS Barbel (Cdr. R.A. Keating Jr., USN) made a short stop a Midway for small voyage repairs and to top off with fuel before proceeding for her patrol area later the same day.

5 Aug 1944USS Barbel (Cdr. R.A. Keating, Jr., USN) torpedoed and sank the Japanese merchant passenger/cargo ship Miyako Maru (1013 GRT, built 1914) off Tokuno Jima in position 27°36'N, 128°54'E. Miyako Maru was en-route from Kagoshima to Okinawa with troops. 287 people died when she sank.

(All times are zone -9)
1050 hours - In position 27°36'N, 128°54'E sighted smoke off the south-east tip of Tokuno Shima. Commenced tracking.

1203 hours - The target appeared to be a medium transport, zigging on a base course of 225°. She was escorted by three 'PC-type' escorts. Manned battle stations. Got into a position ahead of the enemy's base course.

1233 hours - Fired four bow torpedoes from 1200 yards. After firing the second torpedo the target zigged and the setup was quickly changed.

1235 hours - The fourth torpedo was seen to hit the target blowing the stern off. The target began to settle stern first. The escorts then came up so turned and went deep. Ran silently to the eastward.

1241 hours - Three depth charges were dropped, well astern.

1250 hours - One depth charge, aft.

1303 hours - One depth charge, close, overhead.

1325 hours - One depth charge, well aft.

1403 hours - By now the escorts had been sucessfully evaded. Went to periscope depth. Nothing in sight. Continued clearing the area to the eastward.

7 Aug 1944USS Barbel (Cdr. R.A. Keating, Jr., USN) torpedoed and sank a Japanese merchant vessel in the East China Sea in position 27°36'N, 121°46'E.
We have not been able to identify the vessel that was claimed sunk.

2104 hours - Heard three timed torpedo hits. The pip of the target however did not disappear from the radar screen. She continued to proceed at about 7.5 knots. Decided to come in again for a stern shot.

2233 hours - Started firing four stern torpedoes. Two hits were seen and heard. The target sank two minutes after firing. Cleared the area on three engines, charging on the fourth.

9 Aug 1944USS Barbel (Cdr. R.A. Keating, Jr., USN) torpedoed and sank the Japanese army cargo ship Yagi Maru (1937 GRT, built 1943) and the Japanese merchant cargo ship Boko Maru (2333 GRT, former British Sagres, built 1904) north of Okinoshima in position 27°56'N, 128°47'E.

(All times are zone -9)
0200 hours - Obtained radar contact bearing 200°(T) at a range of 25000 yards. Manned battle stations torpedo and commenced tracking. The contact subsequently developed into a convoy of three large ships and about six escorts including a destroyer. The convoy was zigging on a base course of 060°(T).

0323 hours - Barbel was now approximately 12000 yards ahead of the convoy, which could now be seen plainly through the binoculars. Reverse course and headed towards the convoy. Dived to radar depth.

0401 hours - Fired four bow torpedoes at a large transport followed by two more at another large transport. Three hits were obtained, thought the be the third, fifth and sixth torpedoes. Berbel meanwhile had gone deep.

0418 hours - Eight depth charges were dropped but none were close.

0424 hours - Nine more depth charges followed, again none were close.

0435 hours - Heard two large explosions, these were definitely not depth charges.

The night appeared fine for a surface attack. After 50 minutes of tracking determined that the larger target to be on a course of 192°, speed 6 knots. The leading ship (an escort ?) was on the targets starboard bow.

0155 hours - Commenced firing four torpedoes. Two hits were obtained. A tremendous sheet of flame was seen at the target which blew up and sank.

From 22 August 1944 to 4 September 1944 she was refitted by USS Bushnell and Submarine Division 142 Relief Crew.

From 8 to 10 September 1944 training, including night training, was carried out.

13 Sep 1944USS Barbel (Cdr. R.A. Keating, Jr., USN) departed from Majuro for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the East China Sea. She was escorted out by USS Crouter (Lt. C.F. Braught, USNR).

For the daily and attack positions of USS Barbel during this patrol see the map below. As no deck log is available (for the moment) positions were taken from the patrol report. Unfortunately the patrol report does not give daily noon positions.

25 Sep 1944USS Barbel (Cdr. R.A. Keating, Jr., USN) attacked a convoy with torpedoed and sank the Japanese merchant cargo ship Bushu Maru (1223 GRT, built 1918) off Tokara Gunto in position 29°50'N, 130°06'E.At the same time the sub claims the sinking of a "600-ton destroyer escort" as well as that of a 4,000-ton freighter, neither of which are confirmed to be the case by Japanese sources.

1600 hours - The contact was seen to be made up of two ships, both engines aft transports.

1700 hours - In position 29°27'N, 129.41'E sighted a Jake aircraft patrolling over the targets.

2000 hours - Surfaced. The targets were not in sight.

2025 hours - Picked up the targets on the radar. Commenced end around to the east.

2100 hours - The target were proceeding at slow speed. They appeared to make rendes-vous with two escort vessels.

2115 hours - The targets speeded up again.

2147 hours - Range was now 7800 yards. Both escorts were visible, one ahead and one astern.

2200 hours - In position 29°50'N, 130°06'E commenced firing six bow torpedoes at the leading target from 3400 yards. One of the torpedoes exploded prematurely at a range of 600 yards from Barbel and shook her considerably. Three other torpedo hits were seen. One on the escort, thought to be a Chidori-class torpedo boat and two on the target, one forward, one aft. The escort soon sank, this was seen from the bridge and it's pip disappeared from the screen.

2205 hours - Started firing four stern torpedoes at the second target. One possible hit was obtained. The first target was seen to sink shortly afterwards and it's pip also disappeared from the radar screen.

Commenced reload and cleared the area at standard speed.

13 Oct 1944USS Barbel (Cdr. R.A. Keating, Jr., USN) makes a torpedo attack in twilight on radar bearing against a convoy, claiming one hit and damage on a target identified as a 10,000-ton tanker and the sinking of a 1500-ton destroyer at position 29°38'N, 127°27'E. Neither claim is confirmed by Japanese sources.

0549 hours - Slowed down to shoot. Target's course now 015°(T), speed still 10 knots. Disposition of the convoy was as follows; two small transports well in van, then two escorts 2000 yardsahead of the main formation, next three large ships in rough column with a destroyer trailing on the starboard quarter.

0554 hours - Commenced firing six bow tubes at the leading target. No hits were obtained as the target changed course after firing. Swung for a quick setup on the next big target.

0558 hours - Commenced firing four stern tubes at the second big target, an oiler.

0559 hours - All ahead. Opened out on course 020°(T). We had not been sighted. Commenced reload forward.

(All times are zone -10)
1525 hours - In position 29°12'N, 129°34'E sighted a ship bearing 174°(T), range 8 nautical miles. It appeared to be a destroyer. Went to battle stations. Commenced approach.

1558 hours - In position 29°14'N, 129°34'E commenced firing four bow torpedoes from 1870 yards. The target was an armed patrol vessel of about 800 tons. No hits were obtained. Barbel was not detected ! and cleared the area at standard speed.

From 25 to 27 October emergency and voyage repairs were carried out by USS Holland.

30 Oct 1944USS Barbel (Cdr. R.A. Keating, Jr., USN) departed from Saipan for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea (a short 10 day patrol before proceeding to Fremantle, Australia for refit). She was escorted out by USS Corbesier (Lt. H.V. Jones, Jr, USNR).

For the daily and attack positions of USS Barbel during this patrol see the map below. As no deck log is available (for the moment) positions were taken from the patrol report. Unfortunately the patrol report does not give daily noon positions.

15 Nov 1944USS Barbel (Cdr. R.A. Keating, Jr., USN) attacked a convoy in the South China Sea about 250 nautical miles east of Tourane, French Indo-China, torpedoed and sank the Japanese troop transports Misaki Maru (4396 GRT, built 1907) in position 15°04'N, 112°45'E, and later Sugiyama Maru (4297 GRT, built 1914) in position 15°15'N, 112°13'E after having damaged this last ship first.

Misaki Maru and Sugiyama Maru were the two ships in convoy MAYU-10 that was en-route from Manila to Yulin, Hainan. They were escorted by the Japanese minesweepers W-17, W-18 and W-20.

1946 hours - Turned in to attack. Range was now 10000 yards. Three escorts were present.

1954 hours - The convoy zigged towards, both escorts on the starboard side headed for Barbel, pinging. Came right to parralel the convoy and check the situation.

2021 hours - The two escorts were pursuing us to the northward. The convoy zigged to the south-west.

2055 hours - The escorts were successfully evaded. Came to course 220°(T) to make an end around.

2143 hours - On the port beam of the convoy, range 10000 yards.

2155 hours - Again turned in to attack.

2210 hours - In position 15°04'N, 112°45'E commenced firing six bow torpedoes. Two hits were heard and seen. The target was observed to be sinking. Barbel cleared the area at full speed until 2227 hours when she slowed down and commenced a reload.

2232 hours - Changed course to get parralel to the convoy.

2323 hours - Turned in for another attack.

2324 hours - The target and it's escort zigged directly towards us. Range was 2720 yards. This spoiled our bow shot but a nice stern hot could be made out of it.

2326 hours - The escort detected Barbel and opened fire. Tried to get the target between Barbel and the escort but the target also turned.

2327 hours - In position 15°03'N, 112°33'E fired no.7 stern tube. Hold the other three torpedoes.

2328 hours - Fired the other stern tubes.

2330 hours - A hit was felt. Did not see the flash but the target was enveloped in an enormous cloud of coal dust. He had also stopped shooting at us. Cleared the area at full speed.

2341 hours - Slowed down. Commenced reload aft.

2346 hours - Reload completed. Resumed tracking.

2358 hours - The target was tracking on a northerly course. The escort was still on the port quarter. Decided to cross astern and obtain an attack position on the starboard side.

15 November 1944
0018 hours - The escort was now on the starboard quarted so decided to remain on the port side.

0110 hours - The target began to zig left again.

0128 hours - Turned in to attack again.

0134 hours - The target was now dead ahead. Range was 6800 yards.

0139 hours - In a good position for a stern shot. The target however kept turing and the setup had to be made again and again.

0215 hours - In position 15°15'N, 112°13'E commenced firing four stern torpedoes. After firing all tubes went ahead full to clear the area. No. 8 torpedo was seen to hit and the target immediately broke in two.

0430 hours - Fired six torpedoes. No hits were obtained. It is thought the torpedoes ran under. After firing Barbel cleared the area at hight speed. On firing it was seen that the target was more like a destroyer escort then a destroyer.

5 Jan 1945USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. C.L. Raguet, USN) departed from Fremantle, Australia for her 4th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea.

8 Jan 1945USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. C.L. Raguet, USN) made a short stop at Exmouth Gulf to top off with fuel.

3 Feb 1945USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. C.L. Raguet, USN) sent a message reporting numerous aircraft contacts daily. She had been attacked by aircraft three times with depth charges, and would transmit a message tomorrow night giving more information. This was the last heard from her.